Choosing an Alpine Ascents Course:

Alpine Ascents offers a wide range of courses in an attempt to cater to each climber’s interests and personal desires. Many of the courses cover similar curriculum, but have nuances based on location, number of days and season. All programs (successfully completed) serve as a prerequisite for more advanced climbs such as Denali, Vinson, Aconcagua, Island Peak and Ecuador Volcanoes to name a few.
Below please find a brief on each course each linked to the detailed web page:

Denali Preparation Course/Winter Mountaineering Course (Advanced Beginner or Beginner) Mt. Rainier. >>Details
This is a winter mountaineering course designed to introduce climbers to winter climbing and replicate conditions that one may find on cold weather climbs such as Denali.. Skills covered include pulling sleds, building snow structures, snow shoeing and glacier skills such as self-arrest and crevasse rescue. This course is recommended to those who are looking for an early season course (offered February - May) or for those who have some basic climbing skills and want to add winter training. This is a superb training program that generally does not offer a summit attempt, but a chance to climb on Rainier in the winter/spring. This course is also opportune for climbers looking to take on Denali later in the same season.

8 Day Mountaineering Course (Beginner) Mt. Rainier >>Details
This comprehensive course covers all aspects of glacier mountaineering with a chance to summit Mt. Rainier. This course takes place on the Emmons glacier (a lesser used route on Rainier) and may have a day of ice climbing, conditions permitting. Eight days of intensive training will give most students the skills needed to take on larger glaciated peaks such as Denali. This may be a better course for those who want the skills for Denali (or similar) and want the chance to summit Rainier, climb mid-season and learn skills in more favorable conditions than the Denali Prep course. (2:1 climber to guide on summit day). Climbing Rainier allows one to summit a peak over 14,000 feet.

10 Day Mountaineering Course (Beginner/ Advanced Beginner) North Cascades and Mt. Rainier. >>Details
Most comprehensive glacier course we offer in that those who successfully complete will have learned the gamut of basic skills and the chance to utilize those skills on two summit attempts. The second summit attempt is via the more technical Kautz glacier on Mt. Rainier. Join this course in excellent physical condition and walk away with a very strong skill set and excellent understanding of the rigors of climbing glaciated peaks. Along with the Eight Day and Denali Prep courses, this course is recommended for climbers preparing for Denali and similar peaks such as Antarctica’s Vinson. (This course is offered at a lower price than the Six Day and Kautz Climb done separately). Climbing Rainier allows one to summit a peak over 14,000 feet.

6 Day Mountaineering Course (Beginner) North Cascades: >>Details
Our tried and true course for the last 20 years, as we tackle glacier skills and attempt a summit of such peaks and Mt. Baker (The Ice King!) Shuksan or Eldorado. This is a chance to climb in Washington’s great range, The North Cascades and gain knowledge of basic mountaineering skills. This has been our standard prerequisite for many climbs such as Ecuador, Elbrus, and technical routes on Rainier. Our Six Day course also serves as an adequate prerequisite for Denali though for some, the longer courses such as the Denali Prep, Eight Day and 10 Day Course may be more suitable given the extra teaching days. The Six Day is an excellent value. Recommended for those who do not have 8-10 days for a training course or who are confident about learning the glacier climbing skills in six days. (Also good preparation for Aconcagua)

8 Day Alaska Mountaineering Course
(Beginner) >>Details
Our Eight Day Alaska offers a chance to learn climbing skills under the shadow of Alaska’s “Great one” Denali. This is also a very comprehensive course, covering all basic mountaineering skills (self arrest, crevasse rescue, advanced glacier skills) and offers the chance to climb two peaks in the Alaska Range. This course is generally less demanding then our Washington State course (Rainier and North Cascades) as it does not require a long approach hike. This may be less appealing for those looking to test their physical conditioning.

12 Day Alaska Mountaineering Course
(Beginner) >>Details
This course if often coupled with our Eight Day Alaska Course, adding four days for another summit attempt. After traveling all the way to Alaska, this is a nice way to get some extra climbing in, utilizing your newly learned skills.

13 Day Mountaineering Course
(Beginner) North Cascades: >>Details
This course combines our Six Day Mountaineering Course with seven days of Alpine rock. We take three days to learn skills at a famed rock climbing area in Central Washington, then put the combined glacier and rock skills to the test on a mixed route climb (conditions to determine route). This course has a 3:1 climber to guide ratio and serves as a prerequisite. for many of our more advanced glacier climb climbs as well as Alpine Rock climbs such as the Matterhorn. This course is also excellent for those who plan to continue climbing in the vast North Cascades where mixed climbing routes are common.

3 Day Climb of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker
(Beginner) >>Baker Details>>Mt. Rainier Details
These summit climbs are also training courses and serve as a prerequisite for such climbs as Elbrus, Island Peak and Ecuador and Mexico Volcanoes.

Backpacker and Wilderness Navigation
(Beginner) North Cascades >>Details
Designed for those who want some gear assessment, camping, cooking and hiking basics under their belt, before taking on one of our climbing courses.

Rock Climbing for Mountaineers
(Beginner) Leavenworth Washington >>Details
This course focuses on developing Alpine Rock skills and assessing terrain to be used in alpine rock or mixed route climbing.

Intermediate Courses
Alaska, Cascades, Rainier
These courses are designed for those who have mastered basic glacier climbing skills (usually a graduate of a beginner course) offering the chance to further develop skills with similarly skilled and fit climbers.

Level I Courses 8 Day Mountaineering Our Most Popular Course. Introduction to Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue in the wilds of the Alaska Range.12 Day Mountaineering Intensive Introduction to Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue in the Alaska Range.